Mixed Berry Cocoa Jam

At one point this past summer, I found myself in possession of an enormous quantity of blackberries. It was my fault--I'd meant to order a couple quarts, but instead ordered a couple cases of quarts.

I'm admittedly not the most detail-oriented human being in the world, so this kind of stuff happens to me quite a bit. I decided to see it as an opportunity, and went to town with the berry recipes.

One of my favorite concoctions was a Blackberry Cocoa sorbet. A lovely combination of tart and sweet with rich cocoa undertones, it was a hit with everyone I served it to (and I admit that I couldn't stop slipping to the back freezer to sneak yet another spoonful of it). That recipe is something that I definitely plan to share with you in a few months when the berries are in season.

For now, let's talk about jam, which is significantly more winter appropriate.

This one is made with frozen berries--a whole mix of them that I had crowding my freezer (from yet another shopping frenzy). Remembering that wonderful sorbet, I simmered them with sugar and good cocoa, and marveled as it turned into a luscious and fragrant spread that's perfect on any number of carby vehicles.

The recipe below makes a small batch--just about a pint and a half--and requires no special ingredients. Just simmer, divide into jars, and store in the fridge.